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Boulder Valley School District looks to prevent, reduce student suspensions

District seeking outside provider to create classes for suspended students

By Amy Bounds Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
07/11/2013 07:17:16 PM MDT

Updated:
07/11/2013 07:17:52 PM MDT

Boulder Valley is looking for outside help to prevent and reduce student suspensions.

The district is seeking applications from outside providers to create classes for students suspended for using drugs or alcohol on school grounds and for bullying or other anti-social behaviors. Students who complete the voluntary classes would have their suspension sentences -- typically five days -- reduced.

"We want to help students address the issues that are causing or contributing to the behaviors," said Andrew Tucker, Boulder Valley's counseling director. "These students, many are the kids who can least afford to be out of school for three to five days."

Last school year, Boulder Valley suspended students about 760 times. The top four categories were "other" violations, with 241; "defiant" violations, with 183; "disruptive" violations, with 157; and drug violations, with 103.

In middle school, district officials said, students often are suspended for bullying and fighting.

"They don't have good social skills," Tucker said.

In high school, he said, anger management, fighting and substance abuse are the most common issues.

Michele DeBerry, Boulder Valley's director of athletics and activities, said a suspension is considered a last resort, with the goal to focus on other interventions first. Schools have tried different alternative suspension programs over the years, she said.

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"It needs to be timely and meaningful," she said. "We want to change the behavior so the kid can remain in the learning environment."

Tucker said the idea for the new program came from conversations with assistant principals, principals and mental health providers. Outside providers may have more expertise than what Boulder Valley counselors or intervention specialists can provide, especially around substance abuse issues, he said.

"We're really working as a community to try to solve these issues," he said.

Classes would be offered for high school students on substance use prevention and anger management and for middle school students on social success skills. All classes are expected to include stress reduction techniques, an evaluation of the student with referrals if needed and a parent component that focuses on communication and boundary setting.

The plan is to provide four two-hour sessions. Each session would cost about $25, with a sliding scale for low-income students.

Boulder's New Vista High School last school year was one of several Boulder Valley high schools that piloted a similar model, allowing students suspended for substance use to take classes that covered the effects of drug and alcohol and communication skills for parents and students. Students who completed the free classes had their suspensions reduced from five days to three.

"If you have students who are violating the norms of your community and you don't give them the resources to make different choices, they're going to find themselves back in the same place," New Vista Principal Kirk Quitter said.

He said a short class likely won't solve all of a student's problems, but instead would be a starting point.

"Hopefully it can be the beginning of a dialogue," he said. "We want families to know that there might be help or resources out there for students to begin to make better choices."

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